The question has been asked many times before, “What are the best fishing lakes in the BWCA? Basswood, Sag, Knife, Crooked, Malberg, Insula, etc.” I know, I know.

I am looking for recommendations on a lake with great walleye fishing that is off the beaten path (whether that be size or numbers, we’d be fine with either). We are somewhat young and in good shape. We don't mind doing extra work to get there if it leads to Walleye and solitude (As I'm writing this my wife is sitting next to me and reminding me that I'm not in that good of shape, lol... Direct quote from her after sizing me up from head to toe for a few seconds "You used to be in good shape, but that was... you know, before you were a dad.")

We are hoping to camp and stay on one lake for the majority of our trip but open to day trips as long as we can stay at one camp site the entire time.

I know that many people don’t want to post their hot spots/great fishing lakes to the masses. Feel free to shoot me an email as well.

Not sure how big of a difference this makes but we are planning to take the trip in late August or early September. Thanks ahead of time for any input! Dreaming of BWCA trips gets me through the winter.

Email sent with a few suggestions. And by the way, you are still a pup age wise so you should be good.

The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat.

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

Sage, very sage advice…

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

I know how to fish for walleye. I am looking for something off the beat path because of the solitude and the feeling of being the only person (or one of very few) on a lake that comes with it.

I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to trips to the BWCA so getting advice from someone who has taken dozens of trips like yourself can at least give me a starting point for planning a trip.

On the other hand, Papalambeau, that email you sent me was great! Thank you so much for taking a few minutes out of your day to pass along your knowledge of the BWCA. I spent half my day researching the areas you mentioned.

Vera. Few are willing to make the portage from Ensign. Some spectacular, other species, day trip options not far away.

outsidethebox: "Vera. Few are willing to make the portage from Ensign. Some spectacular, other species, day trip options not far away. "

I would agree with Vera. We have had two memorable trips to Vera. A good number of day trips to trout lakes if you base camp on Vera as an added bonus.

sconnie84: "

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

I know how to fish for walleye. I am looking for something off the beat path because of the solitude and the feeling of being the only person (or one of very few) on a lake that comes with it.


I am relatively inexperienced when it comes to trips to the BWCA so getting advice from someone that has taken dozens of trips like yourself can at least give me a starting point for planning a trip.


On the other hand, Papalambeau that email you sent me was great! Thank you so much for taking a few minutes out of your day to pass along your knowledge of the BWCA. I spent half my day researching the areas you mentioned. "

How much solitude do you need? I've spent 4 days on Alice without seeing another canoe. I've spent a week on Insula without seeing another canoe within a mile? There are hidden campsites on both these heavily traveled lakes where the walleye fishing is superb.

Bog Lake is definitely off the beaten path. If you’re looking to fish and have relative solitude, then I’d suggest this lake. While size is not great, you should have no problem catching fish.

When it comes to off the beaten path Hatchet, Fraser, Sagus (all just North of Thomas) Thunder, Fairy, and Beartrap come to mind when you say "out of the way".

When it comes to off the beaten path Hatchet, Fraser, Sagus (all just North of Thomas) Thunder, Fairy, and Beartrap come to mind when you say "out of the way".

Beartrap, buck

The journey is the destination, good luck!!!!

Poobah and Kawnipi in Quetico have excellent walleye fishing......

Crocodile

Speckled: "Crocodile"

Agree-and it is very easy to get to. I would also say both Caribou lakes. That said, all 3 areas are busy, and Croc has a unique permit set up.

Hammertime: "Beartrap, buck


The journey is the destination, good luck!!!!"

The Beartrap/Thunder Lake area would meet this criteria very well. A little work getting there. The portages aren't terrible (except for the middle one between Mudro and Fourtown). We did well on both lakes last year. I would recommend the campsite adjacent to the short portage between Beartrap and Thunder if the 5 Star on Beartrap is not available.

Beaver Lake north of Malberg.

outsidethebox: "Vera. Few are willing to make the portage from Ensign. Some spectacular, other species, day trip options not far away. "

Very interesting to see Vera on this list. Our first trip to the BWCA in 2017 we spent on a night on Vera. It was a beautiful, secluded lake but we struck out on fish. Sounds like we should have spent some more time there. I can confirm that the portage from Knife to Vera is intense, especially for someone on their first trip.

We are targeting Beartrap/Thunder for an early August trip this year. Excited to check out the area.

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

Any pointers for a very novice fisherman?

hernfiry: "

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

Any pointers for a very novice fisherman?"

If you read through copious threads on this forum about walleye fishing like I have, you will notice several recurring themes:

- First make sure the lake actually has walleye

- Look at lake contours and target underwater humps and areas where there is sudden variance in depth

- Also target windswept ends of lakes where baitfish are pushed, and areas where rivers and creeks feed in, as lazy walleye will wait for the food to come to them

- Since they like cold water, they will be more shallow in spring...once it warms up, they will go deeper

- Troll original Rapalas in gold or perch color over likely locations. Since they school, once you catch one, stay in the area; you are likely to catch more

- Walleye are sensitive to light so catching them will be easier during dawn, dusk, and overcast days with a bit of chop

- Use TGO's leech method (TGO = The Great Outdoors -- a mainstay on the forums)

SummerSkin: "

hernfiry: "

RMinMN: "The best walleye lakes are not off the beaten path. Learn to fish for walleyes and you will catch more than you can eat."

Any pointers for a very novice fisherman?"

If you read through copious threads on this forum about walleye fishing like I have, you will notice several recurring themes:


- First make sure the lake actually has walleye


- Look at lake contours and target underwater humps and areas where there is sudden variance in depth


- Also target windswept ends of lakes where baitfish are pushed, and areas where rivers and creeks feed in, as lazy walleye will wait for the food to come to them


- Since they like cold water, they will be more shallow in spring...once it warms up, they will go deeper


- Troll original Rapalas in gold or perch color over likely locations. Since they school, once you catch one, stay in the area; you are likely to catch more


- Walleye are sensitive to light so catching them will be easier during dawn, dusk, and overcast days with a bit of chop


- Use TGO's leech method (TGO = The Great Outdoors -- a mainstay on the forums)"

SummerSkin...There are A LOT of threads on this topic. Excellent summary and much appreciated. :)

Thanks SummerSkin! Appreciate it!

I would second or third Crocodile Lake as a good place off the beaten path to catch walleyes. Very good fishing, almost easy and a very pretty remote feeling lake to boot. Mostly eater size but plenty of those, occasional big one. Also pike and jumbo perch to be had. For being as close as it is to an entry point it seems very quiet and wild, good wildlife potential. First night of my first trip there we saw three wolves cavorting in the water in the bay to the west of us, howling and growling away. Pretty cool. Not much traffic. Four campsites, all ok with the second being the best and the 4th not bad at all...going west to east. Enter at East Bearskin landing but need permit # 66, quirk of the system. Paddle 30 ish minutes to the portage to crocodile and take the 120 rod portage to croc and that's it. Steep at first but levels out, not too bad. Have to stay all nights on Crocodile Lake with that permit so better for a short trip. Pretty dang cool place. Read my trip report if interested, photos of the lake and the wolves.

I will admit that I have not been to it, but I've read a lot of fishing reports about the good walleye population in Stuart Lake. You could certainly consider it off the beaten path because the first 1.4 mile portage to get to it turns a lot of people away.

SouthernExposure: "I will admit that I have not been to it, but I've read a lot of fishing reports about the good walleye population in Stuart Lake. You could certainly consider it off the beaten path because the first 1.4 mile portage to get to it turns a lot of people away."

I'll confirm this statement. We were headed to Iron a few years ago via the Stuart River, we made it to the north end of Stuart and set up camp. The campsite was great and the fishing was pretty good so we ended up just staying there for our trip.

DrizzyDrew: "

outsidethebox: "Vera. Few are willing to make the portage from Ensign. Some spectacular, other species, day trip options not far away. "

Very interesting to see Vera on this list. Our first trip to the BWCA in 2017 we spent on a night on Vera. It was a beautiful, secluded lake but we struck out on fish. Sounds like we should have spent some more time there. I can confirm that the portage from Knife to Vera is intense, especially for someone on their first trip.


We are targeting Beartrap/Thunder for an early August trip this year. Excited to check out the area. "

We too struck out on Vera.

Kawnipi.

Go exploring, there endless good walleye lakes off the beaten path.